Helen M. Phillips

March 17, 1925 - July 13, 2018

Helen (McDowell) Phillips, 93, of Chicora, Pennsylvania, died on July 13, 2018 at A Place to Call Home Elderly Care in Ohio. Helen was born in Butler on March 17, 1925 to the late James McDowell and Grace (Brown) McDowell. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harvey H. Phillips; sons: David H. Phillips, John P. Phillips (Michele) and James R. Phillips (Tanya); brother, James McDowell; brother-in-law Donald O. Oesterling; and nephews, Matthew and Peter Oesterling (Judy). She is survived by her sister, Ann (McDowell) Oesterling (Donald); grandchildren, Kellen Phillips (Melanie), Sean Phillips, Tiffany (Phillips) Monk (Steve), Sarah Phillips and Josh Phillips; great grandchildren: Ellie, Westen, John and Trinity; niece, Dawn (Oesterling) Prebula (Gary), and nephew, Michael Oesterling (Penny). Helen graduated from Butler High School where her father was the football coach. A life-long Butler resident, Helen was active in the Butler Women’s Club, the Fort Pitt Retriever Club and several bridge clubs. She was a longtime active member of the North Butler United Presbyterian Church. Helen loved nature and the outdoors and was a long-standing member of the National Audubon Society. Known in the area as a trainer of field dogs, Helen won several United States and Canadian National Field Championships with her Golden and Labrador retrievers. As an avid Steelers, Penguins and western PA sports enthusiast, she loved talking about them and watching them on TV. Friends are invited to attend a Graveside Service at North Butler Presbyterian Church Cemetery on Wednesday at 10:00 AM, followed by a Memorial Service at the North Butler Presbyterian Church, 137 N. Butler Church Rd, Chicora, PA 16025 at 11:00 AM with Rev. Mary Kitchen, officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John P. Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund or the McDowell, Phillips, Oesterling Football Scholarship at Slippery Rock State University, One Morrow Way, 100 Old Main, Slippery Rock, PA 16057. Arrangements are under the direction of the Young Funeral Home, 127 W. Jefferson St. Butler, PA.